Isaac (Ike) Harrison Carman

(name also spelled "Carmin")

by S. E. Williams

On May 22, 1863 the 48th Ohio along with numerous
other regiments charged the Confederate works at Vicksburg. On
that day Ike Carman, who had only recently been promoted to Corporal
on May first, earned a Congressional Medal of Honor. This charge
was the sort of event that burns itself into the minds of those
who survive it. The simple, mater-of-fact description of the
charge in the regimental history makes clear that the entire
regiment acting as a unit made a heroic effort against overwhelming
odds. In the account Ike Carman is conspicuously mentioned in
a book which otherwise never speaks of individual enlisted men
outside of casualty lists.

"May 22d, orders
were issued for a general assault along the lines at 11 o'clock
A. M. The echo of the signal-gun had scarcely died away, when
our brigade was ordered forward to take the fort in our front,
situated on a hill, in an angle of their entrenchment's, where
their guns commanded every approach. Down the ravine we started
on double-quick, checking our speed for a moment in a deep gully,
to reform our line before facing the fort, whose incessant fire
shook the ground at every discharge. Then on we went, up the
hill, through the brush and undergrowth, but did not check our
speed until the right of the Regiment, in conjunction with the
left of the 77th Illinois, reached the fort. Leaping into the
ditch, and climbing the parapet, the colors of the 48th Ohio
and 77th Illinois were planted on the fort. The rebel gunners
surrendered and were hurried to the rear. During this charge
Major Moats was mortally wounded in the knee.

We were now exposed to an enfilading fire
from the right and left, which was thinning our ranks at a fearful
rate. We were left there to contend against great odds, without
any assistance whatever. At 4 P. M. the rebels massed their
troops on our front, and attacked us with great fury, and re-took
the fort, capturing the colors and fifty men of the 77th Ills.
Ike Carmin, one of our color guards, with a bayonet-wound in
the leg, clung to our flag and saved it from sharing the same
fate. This was the signal for a second attack on both
sides. Another charge was ordered all along the line. It was
a glorious sight to see our troops advancing in plain view over
the hills, to our assistance. But as soon as they got within
range of the rebel fire, they were mown down and almost annihilated.
So destructive was the concentrated fire of the enemy, that not
a single man of those sent to reinforce us reached our line.
In the meantime, a few spades and shovels had been brought up,
with which the Regiment hastily threw up rude entrenchment's,
from which they kept up an unceasing fire until dark, when the
firing ceased and all became quiet. We remained on the battlefield
until the town clock in Vicksburg struck the hour of 10 P. M.,
when we were ordered to retreat, which we accomplished without
being discovered by the enemy. Before the engagement commenced,
stretcher-bearers were detailed to carry the wounded of the Regiment
off the battle-field. They succeeded in removing all the wounded
to the rear.

When we retreated we attempted to carry off
our dead, but on account of the darkness and the rugged nature
of the locality, we had to abandon the undertaking, and leave
them where they fell."

From Corporal Carman's military record we
can add that he was "Wounded, -- severely below knee by
bayonet" during this action. Isaac Carman's Medal
of Honor citation states that he "Saved his regimental
flag; also seized and threw a shell, with burning fuse, from
among his comrades" His military record states the Medal
of honor, awarded for gallantry at Vicksburg, Miss May 22, 1863
was received Feb. 25, 1895.

Isaac Carman was a 20 year-old farmer when
he was enlisted as a private on September 9, 1861 by Job Parker
into what became Company A of the 48th Ohio. He was from near
New Lexington Ohio (aka Highland Ohio in Highland County) and
was born in Monmouth County, New Jersey. He was 5 feet 10 inches
tall with Black hair and hazel eyes.

Corporal Carman's military record states that
he was "engaged at Shiloh, Holly Springs, Corinth, Chickasaw
Bluffs, Post [of] Arkansas, Fort Pemberton, where serving on
Gunboat Chillicothe, Port Gibson, Champion Hills, Wounded at
Vicksburg May 22, 1863." He was taken prisoner April 8,
1864 at loss at Mansfield and exchanged Nov. 3, 1864 and join
regiment at Nachez Miss. During Nov. & Dec. 1864 he was sent
to Ohio to be discharged by reason of expiration of term of service.
The Army charged him $0.87 for a cartridge box, belt-plate and
gun sling he had lost and mustered him out Dec. 1, 1864. He
is reported buried at Washington Courthouse, Ohio.

Most of his service, including his time as
a prisoner, was served with the majority of the men of the regiment
but from Jan. 23, 1863 to April 18, 1863 he was detached for
service on the Gunboat Chillicothe. Isaac Carman's great contribution
to his comrades at arms was during the bloody charge at Vicksburg
where he stood out even in an outstanding regiment.